Dried formulations of nanoparticle-coated capsules

Abstract

A method of producing a dried formulation for an active substance such as a drug compound is described. The method involves dispersing a discontinuous phase (e.g. an oil-based or lipidic medium) comprising the active substance into a continuous phase (e.g. water) so as to form a two-phase liquid system comprising droplets of said discontinuous phase, allowing nanoparticles to congregate at the phase interface at the surface of the droplets such that at least one layer of nanoparticles coat the droplets and thereby provide sufficient structural integrity to the droplets to enable the subsequent removal of the continuous phase, and thereafter removing the continuous phase from the nanoparticle-coated droplets to produce a dried formulation.

1 . A dried formulation for an active substance produced by spray- or freeze-drying a dispersion of liposomes comprising a single or multiple lipid bilayer, surrounding an aqueous phase comprising said active substance, wherein said liposomes are coated with at least one layer of nanoparticles congregated at a phase interface of said liposomes. 
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the active substance is selected from the group consisting of nutriceutical substances, cosmetic substances and drug compounds. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the active substance is a biological agent. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 3 , wherein the biological agent is selected from the group consisting of a peptide, a protein and a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have hydrophilic surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are silica nanoparticles. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the nanoparticles are silica nanoparticles. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average diameter in the range of 5-80 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 50 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the single or multiple lipid bilayer comprises lecithin. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the single or multiple lipid bilayer comprises lecithin and cholesterol.